Printing die



July 26, 1927. 1", 373094 H. R. WADE ET AL PRINTING DIE Filed Feb.l5,1927 INVENTORS Manta Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD R. WADE AN D LEE M. HARLEY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS TO JAS. H. MATTHEWS & COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PRINTING DIE.

Application filed February 15, 1927. Serial No. 168,316.

Our invention relates to improvements in printing dies and particularlyin dies of rubber, adapted to be applied to and removed from a carrier.The objects of the invention are. ease of handling, serviceability, anddurability.

our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I isa view in perspective of a die of our invention. Fig. II is' a view inperspective and to smaller scale of a carrier for dies, in this case a.rocker, and showing a die of our invention in place upon it. Figs. IIIand IV are views to larger scale. illustrating alternative forms whichthe metallic inlay,

a feature of the die of our invention, may take.

The die 1. formed essentially of rubber will ordinarily be ofrectangular shape and of substantial thickness. The dimensions of thebody part of a particular die (exclusive of the character raised uponits face and exclusive of the end flanges) are x 1T'%Xf%". Thesedimensions are given by way of example, not by way of limitation. Uponthe face of the die the character 2 to be imprinted is raised,-in thisinstance it stands high.

The body of the die is formed at its opposite ends with basal flanges 3.These flanges in the die whose dimensions are being given, extend -5from the body part and are thick.

Molded within the rubber body and in its basal part is an inlay 4 ofmetal. This inlay may, as is more particularly shown in Fig. III be ofwoven wire, or, as shown in Fig. IV it may be of perforate sheet metal.These two forms are given as illustrative, but not as an exhaustivepresentation of alternative forms. The inlay 1nanifestly might consistofa succession of unconnected lengths of wire. extending from end to endof the die. It is essential only that this inlay of metal be attenuated.and be capable of being united with the rubber into an integral whole.The inlay, as appears in Fig. I. extends into the basal flanges 3. Itsopposite margins are folded over, and these folded-over margins lieWithin the flanges 8.

The folding over of the margins of the inlay has these advantages: itgreatlv increases the rigidity and holding power of the flanges; theedges of the inlay are rounded, there are no projecting sharp points;the die as a whole is left suiliciently flexible in the middle forbending transversely, as may be required in application and removal, butelsewhere it is relatively inflexible. The essential elasticity of therubber remains, to render the die adequate in printing; the die is easyto make, inexpensive, and it is durable in high degree.

In Fig. II the method of use is illustrated. A rocker 5 beers on itsface pairs of opposite overhanging retaining strips 6, spaced apart atan interval corresponding to the length of the die body, exclusive ofits base flanges; in this instance with suitable allowance. Thethickness of the strips is less than the height of the die from baseflange to printing face, and the spaces beneath the strips aresufficient to receive the base flanges of the die. In makingapplication, the die may he slid to position with its flanges 3 beneathstrips 6, by being applied at the end of the rocker; or the die may beflexed medially until the distance between the edges of the flanges 3 isless than the distance between the opposite edges of strips 6. It maythen be inserted between the strips and released; whereupon it willspring to place. Removal may be effected in like manner. Manifestly theinvention is not limited to any particular dimensions; manifestly asingle die member may carry a plurality of characters to be printed;manifestly if the die member be of great extent in length and breadthrelatively to thickness. its edges on every side or along as many sidesas desired may be formed with reenforced basal. flanges such asdescribed of the ends of the particular die shown in the drawings anddescribed above.

WVe claim as our invention:

A printing dieconsisting of a block of rubber containing an inlay ofmetal, such block bearing on its face the character to be printed. andbeing formed at its ends with opposite basal flanges. and said inlaybeing of attenuated form, with opposite folded-over margins, suchfolded-over margins extending within said basal flanges.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

HAROLD R. IVADE. LEE M. HARLEY.

